Other Things To Do in O-Town
By Emily Schlorf
Your Orlando trip is going exactly as planned. You’ve patiently queued your way through all the major theme parks, felt your stomach drop while riding the latest roller coasters, savored an exorbitant quantity of cotton candy and ice cream, and made heartwarming memories along the way.
The only thing missing from your family’s fun-filled theme park vacation? A break.
To keep the magic magical, take a day off from the parks and enjoy amusement elsewhere in The City Beautiful. Explore nearby natural wonders; introduce your kids to O-Town’s exciting artful offerings; and devour cuisine to satisfy even the pickiest of eaters.
Outdoor Explorers
From sparkling springs to eerie yet striking wetlands, Orlando and its surrounding cities have offerings for families of all levels of “outdoorsy.”
Mead Botanical Garden in Winter Park is 48 acres of floral beauty. With its two marvelous butterfly gardens and a flock of vibrant feathered friends like red-headed woodpeckers, blue herons, owls, and hawks, nature lovers of all ages will have a field day here.
In addition to bird- and butterfly-watching, your adventuresome crew can also enjoy geocaching (a high-tech treasure hunt) on-site. Central Florida’s first geocache was placed on these grounds more than two decades ago, and it’s still home to a bevy of knickknacks to track down.
If your family favors aquatic animal encounters, Blue Spring State Park in Orange City is a must. Aside from the picturesque blue-green waters, the spring is the hangout spot for manatees. While swimming with the gentle giants is prohibited, you can get up close via kayak or canoe or by walking along the 4.5-mile Pine Island Trail. Be sure to get there early as the park closes intermittently whenever it reaches capacity.
Another option is Orlando Wetlands Park. Brimming with trails and wildlife, Floridians and out-of-staters alike will be amazed by the wildlife that call this place home. Keep an eye out for Florida’s most well-known species: alligators, snakes, and turtles, as well as otters, bald eagles, hawks, deer, bobcats, and foxes. To spot the animals from afar, visit the 30-foot-tall Oyler Overlook and take in the panoramic views or take a guided tour on the tram.
Little Picassos
Let your children’s creativity run wild with a visit to the Crayola Experience® at The Florida Mall. Sure to inspire young artists of all abilities, the attraction features activities including making your own crayon; seeing Bluetiful, one of the largest crayons in the world; creating drip art by melting crayon wax; and dabbling in other art forms ranging from painting to doodling with chalk. A stop at the mall’s American Girl® doll store or Build-a-Bear Workshop after the experience is a fun-loving way to cap off the day.
If your crew prefers observing art to creating it, the Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens in Winter Park is a vibrant pick. The Dijon mustard–yellow mansion once belonged to the Czech sculptor after his retirement in 1950 and is home to a beautiful waterfront sculpture garden. Picnics are not only allowed but encouraged.
And definitely save time for a post-museum walk — and ice cream cone — in charming downtown Winter Park.
Exciting Bites
Orlando’s restaurant options have multiplied (and then multiplied again) in recent years. Looking for something casual? À La Cart is a hub of semipermanent food trucks offering delectable eats from Sri Lankan street food to dessert pizza. Another option with choices for all tastes is East End Market, which offers mouthwatering possibilities such as cookies smothered in Oreo bits at Gideon’s Bakehouse and Domu’s top-tier ramen and Korean-style wings.
While there’s nothing like diving into Disney and the area’s other popular parks, don’t be afraid to venture into Orlando’s other unique possibilities and make your own kind of magic.
